Rating: 
Summary: This book needs an overhaul
Review: I read this book through to the end just to be done with it, and it left me very annoyed (maybe also with myself for sticking with it, hoping it would improve). The motivations for most of the characters' actions did not ring true. The author spent too much time on plot and not enough time on the inner workings of the characters. The result is an array of characters whose actions often didn't seem believable.As I tried to figure out why this book has so many stars, I saw that one reviewer entered her five-star review five times-good grief. I think the book could have been vastly improved by a third person viewpoint, so perhaps we could have gotten insight into the various characters. As it was, we were limited to Bean's thoughts. Along with being an unrealistic character in general, she decried the hypocrisy of others throughout the book. Then she ended up there herself, and I think we were supposed to applaud it. I gather that she stayed with Ben for 20 years because of her background and her current situation as a verbally abused wife. Sorry, again this wasn't fleshed out. Ben didn't have hot-and-cold cycles; he was just permanently chilled and a very flat character. He didn't threaten to harm her if she left him; in fact, other than her cooking, she seemed to be a detriment to his career. Bean moved back and forth from being headstrong, willful, and defiant to being an obsequious wimp. We all have paradoxes within us, but hers were not believable. I found the liberal viewpoints in the book refreshing, although the Methodist denomination took a slamming, which is not realistic. There are a huge number of Methodists with liberal views (perhaps not in Florida, though...Southern Methodists can speak with more authority on this). I was surprised to read the review by the literature professor of 37 years (?), who denigrated the negative comments by other reviewers. These reviews are an important way that we inveterate readers find out which books to select next. If people didn't enjoy a book, I want to know about that and why they didn't like it. Unfortunately, I didn't read the reviews before I got this book...too bad for me! Also, I'm surprised that a literature professor wouldn't have mentioned the repeated grammatical errors in this book (e.g., "None of us have...."). There are other errors as well. Where was the editor?
Rating:
Summary: Leaves you flat
Review: What a disappointment! I thought it might be a change but by half way through I didn't understand any of the mootivation for the main characters and their escapades were NOT those of even slightly rational women. Really! So, despite the "romance" ending, there was nothing of substance to the story or the characters. Just to complete the irrational feel, young Gus behaved like a toddler at age 8 and was attending summer kindergarden. What was she thinking?
The Conroy name can only get you so far, and this time, it was way too far.
Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Rarely do I pick up a book and read it in a day. Cassandra King's descriptions of the characters, their feelings, and the settings made me feel a part of the story. For those of you who don't think the minister was realistic, I've known people like Ben; manipulative and selfish. He knew what he was doing, he just didn't care. The fact that the reader gets worked up about him shows the skill of the writer. I thought it was a wonderful book and I hope someone will opt to make it a movie...Can Sandra Bullock sing??? (a perfect Dean) Keep writing, Cassandra, you've got it!
Rating: 
Summary: I'm sorry, Cassandra
Review: I really wanted to like this book; honestly, I did! But the lead character had no backbone at all. God knows, I've had trouble standing up to people myself, but when Dean finally cussed her controlling, insensitive, neglectful, boneheaded husband out (and I was thinking YES!!!), she humbly apologized in the very next paragraph! No, no, no!!! Ben's backside needed kicking, and Dean was certainly justified in kicking it. Aside from that, the book was just too predictable. There were very few surprises, and I couldn't believe how long it took Dean to catch on to things that seemed so obvious to me. Overall, I was very disappointed in the book. It was a struggle to finish it. As much as I admire Ms. King's enlightened view of gay people and other "hot button" issues, I cannot recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Emily
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Sunday Wife from beginning to end. It was filled with fascinating, page-turning circumstances that i could relate to and understand. Dean is a fabulous character, unique to her own. She deals with the frustrations of being conformed to someone she is not. Each of her relationships are realistic and true. I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for themselves in the midst of the daily routine and dealing with frustrations from relationships that seem to have found a dead end.
Rating:
Summary: Strong Start
Review: This book got off to a strong start. The first hundred pages were filled with interesting characters, strong conflict, and an inside look into a Southern church community. The setting entices, and the book avances at a lively pace. Unfortunately, the narrow minded stereotypes hindered the depth of the characters and resulted in a predictable stale story. The book had potential but failed to meet it.
Rating: 
Summary: Treat yourself to a bit of Pleasure!
Review: I found this book to be accurate and exceptionally well written. Cassandra reaches out a finger to give life to the characters in a refreshing style. As a Professor of literature for the last 37 years I feel I am qualified to say that this is an excellent read. I would not bother to review this but the spiteful reviews I read are cruel and ignorant. If you can't say anything nice, then keep your snobbery to yourself. Don't you just hate negative people! If you're an intelligent person and you're not blind to the problems of organized religion than this book is for you. If not, stick to just reading Pat Robertsons latest or perhaps Mien Kampf, but leave your trashy opinion in the gutter with your disposition. Everyone else in the world would like to celebrate the subject of this book, individuality and freedom.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Southern
Review: Dean is truly southern. Dominated by her husband, an aspiring Methodist minister she strives to make him happy and successfully fulfill her role as his wife. She is submissive focusing more on her "role" than on herself. Like many southern women she is consumed by what other people think, however, when she meets Augusta her life takes a turn that challenges not only her role, but also her Christian beliefs. King understands southern culture especially southern women. Well written and thought provoking, yet totally entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Trite and predictable
Review: I picked up this book because it said it was a smart woman's book. I read a lot and want more than one dimensional characters and predictable plot. The main character was so naive and spineless, it was laughable. She lived her life based completely on what others wanted her to do or ordered her to do, of course until the end. Her husband, the minister, had virtually no redeeming qualities, he saw her as a possession and treated her like a child. The remaining characters were stereotypes, the socialite, the pious church-goer, the racist. The writing was juvenile and annoying. At one point, the main character was having a serious discussion and called the other person "Mr. Know It All".
Rating:
Summary: Predictable, boring, not worth the time and effort
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. After the first five
chapters, I couldn't go any further. Rather than trash what I
had paid good money for, I attempted to give this book away to one of my friends who might would have a different opinion. No
dice--couldn't even give it away. Sorry to say but I could have
read something of similar nature, or better, for free in my
local newspaper. I apologize for this poor review because the
author's husband is one of my favorite writers.
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